weight



(No Model.)

IL. MILLER & M. L. WRIGHT.

THILL COUPLING.

No. 376,606. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.

L F x z/MZ INVENTOHSI WITNESSES r BYM ATTORNEYS NITED STATES Fries.

PATENT LEWIS MILLER AND MAURICE L. WRIGHT, OF MEXICO, NE\V YORK.

THlLL-COUPLlN-G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,606, dated January1'7, 1888,

' Application filed June 13, 1887. Serial No.24l,l89. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEwIs MILLER and MAURICE L. WRIGHT, of Mexico, inthe county of Oswego, in the State-of New York, have invented new anduseful Improvements in 'lhill-Oouplings, of which the following, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, andexact description.

This invention relates to the class of thil1- couplings in which the eyeof the thill-iron is composed of two parts hinged together and coupledto the coupling-pin by a clamp embracing the two parts of the aforesaideye in front of the coupling-pin.

The objectof thisinvention is to render the thill-coupling more compactand more convenient, and also more secure in its operation; and to thatend our invention consists in the improved construction and combinationof parts, as hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in theclaim.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are side views ofthill-couplings embodying our improvements. Figs. 3 and 4 are verticallongitudinal sections of the same, and Fig. 5 is a detached perspectiveview of the thill-iron.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the forward axle of the vehicle.

B denotes the usual clip,which embraces the axle and is rigidly securedthereto by the cliptie B, placed across the underside of the axle andreceiving through it theshanks ofthe clip, which latter are providedwith nuts on the under side of theclip-tie.

a or represent the usual shackle-eyes, which are rigidly secured orformed integral with either the aforesaid clip, as shown in Figs. 1 and3 of the drawings, or the clip-tie, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4 ofthe drawings.

1) denotes the coupling-pin, which may be either formed integral withthe aforesaid shackle-eyes'or formed separately and inserted in theperforations of the shackle-eyes, as represented in Figs. 1 and 3 of thedrawings.

0 denotes the thill-iron, which we form with the eye-section (Z, to theend of which we hinge the eye-section d, which latter we form with aforward projecting lip, Z, adapted to lie on the under side of thethill-iron when the section d is swung forward to complete the eye ofthe thill- For the purpose of locking the eyesections v of thethill-iron in their aforesaid position on the coupling-pin we hinge tothe top of thethilliron a lever, e, to which we connect a bail, f, whichreaches down on opposite sides of the thill-iron and across the sameashort distance below the under side thereof. By swinging the said bailrearward, so as to bring it to lie across the under side of the lip Zand then swinging the lever 6 back, so as to cause it to rest on the topof the eye-section d, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings,the bailfis drawn up tightly against the under side of the lip Z andsecurely clamps the same on the thill-iron.

It will be observed that when the bail f is under the lip Z and thelever e swung back upon the top of the eye-section 0Z, as aforesaid,

said lever becomes securely locked in said position by the downwarddraft of the bail.

Therefore, our improved thill-coupling is not I only more convenientlymanipulated than the set-screw heretofore employed in connection withanalogous chill-couplings, but is also more secure, as it is awell-known fact that screws when subjected to jars are liable to workloose.

The levere may be either of east or malleable or wrought metal and ofthe form shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5 of the drawings, or formed of wire,as represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In order to obtain a more secure hold on the said lip we serrate theunder side thereof to afford the desired hold for the bail f. To guardagainst the rattling ofthe described thill-conpling we introduce betweenthe coupling-pin b and the embracing portions of the eye-sections (Z dtubular bushings h of leather or other suitable material.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names and affixed ourseals, in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syra- I 5 euse, inthe county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 25th day of May,1887.

LEWIS MILLER. F. s] MAURICE L. \VRIGHT. L. s.]

\Vitnesses:

H. P. DENISON, O. BENDIXON.

